Combination tool



C. J. LAGGREN COMBINATION TOOL Jan. 3, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb.25, 1954 INVENTOR Car] Jl BY aygrezz ATTORNEY United States PatentCOMBINATESN T991.

Carl J. Laggreri, Eiizah-eth, N. Application February 25, 1954, SerialNo. 412,453

4 Claims. (Cl. 33--88) This invention relates to a combination tool,particularly useful in construction operations, and combining in oneunit the functions of a level, a plumb, a square, a straight-edge, ascale and an angle or protractor.

The tool of the present invention is designed, in the normal relation ofits parts, to function as a carpenters or bricklayers square,incorporating therein spirit levels extending in three mutuallyperpendicular directions. To this end, the tool includes a pair ofrectilinear arms or legs having mating bevelled edges accurately formedto position the legs perpendicular to each other when the bevelled edgesare inter-engaged. The side edges of each arm are appropriatelygraduated to form the scales.

To adopt the tool for use as a straight-edge, angle, or square, the armsof the tool are arranged to be pivotally or hingedly interconnectedselectively at either the outer or the inner corner of the square. Forthis purpose, each leg has hinge leaves on both its inner and outeredges adjacent its bevelled end, each leaf mating with a similarlylocated leaf on the other arm of the tool. A removable hinge pin isattached to the tool so that it may be selectively used with eitherhinge.

To use the tool as a square or angle, the hinge pin is positioned tocomplete the hinge at the inner corner of the tool. The arms, adjacenttheir bevelled edges, are provided with juxtaposed circular guidesconcentric with the axis of the inner hinge. One of the arms has athreaded aperture receiving a winged clamping stud cooperable with thetwo circular or arcuate guides to clamp the guides firmly to hold thearms in any adjusted angular relation.

If the tool is to be used as a straight-edge or an elongated level, thehinge pin is withdrawn from the inner hinge and inserted in the outerhinge, and the winged clamping stud is removed. The two arms may then beswung outwardly so that their outer edges are aligned.

As a further feature, the invention tool can also be used as a levellinganchor for a line, either in cooperation with a similar tool or with aclip. To this end, the inner edge of each arm has a channel groovetherealong so that an elastic line can be laid along either groove andanchored adjacent the corner of the tool. The other end of the elasticline is secured in a similar manner to an identical tool or to acooperating clip. The tools, in the form of squares, are then squaredover the ends of a brick wall or the like with the elastic cordstretched therebetween to provide a level line for laying up a course ofbrick.

While the invention tool may be made of any suitable material, it ispreferably made of translucent material, such as a suitably rigidtransparent plastic. Thereby, elongated recesses may be provided in theouter ends of the arms to receive pencil flashlights, and theillumination from these flashlights is transmitted to the several spiritlevels incorporated in the tool.

For an understanding of the invention principles, reference is made tothe following detailed description of a 2,728,989 Patented Jan. 3, 1-956typical embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.In the drawing:

Fig. l is a plan view of the invention tool when used as a square,alternative angular relations of the arms being shown in broken lines;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation view corresponding to Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4 are transverse sectional views on the correspondinglynumbered lines of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a parital perspective view of the tool;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a clip usable with the tool or with asimilar clip to anchor an elastic cord to form a straight line; and

Fig. 7 is an elevation view illustrating uses of the tool and the clipin laying up a brick wall.

Referring to Figs. 1 through 5, the combination tool 10 of the inventioncomprises a pair of pivotally and detachably interconnected and matingarms 20, 20 of substantially rectangular cross section and formed of anysuitable, preferably translucent material. As the arms are matingopposites of each other, only one will be described in detail,corresponding reference characters primed being used to designatecorresponding parts of the other arm.

Ann 20 includes a front side surface 21, a rear side surface 22, aninner edge 23, an outer edge 24, a bevelled end 25, and an outer end 26.For a purpose to be described, a channel groove 27 is formed along theinner edge 23. Adjacent each edge 23, 24, front surface or wall 21 ismarked with calibrated graduations, such as 31, 32, forming a scaleadjacent each edge. Rear surface 22 may be similarly marked.

The bevelled inner edge 25 of arm or leg 20 extends at an exact 45degree angle to edges as 23 and 24. Consequently, when the inner edges25 and 25 and 25 of arms 20 and 20, respectively, are abutted, the edges23 and 24 of arm 20 will extend at an exact degree angle to the edges 23and 24 of arm 20, so that tool 10 will then have the form of a square.Means are provided to hold the arms in this position, or at other anglesto each other.

As best seen in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5, the inner edge 23 of arm 20,adjacent bevelled end 25, is recessed to receive one leaf or wing 30 ofa hinge 35, this leaf being secured to arm 30 by countersunk screws 33,leaf or wing 30 mates With a similarly located leaf or wing 30' on arm20', forming the other half of hinge 35. The outer edge 24 of arm 20 issimilarly recessed to receive a hinge leaf 40 cooperable with a matinghinge leaf 40, similarly located on the outer edge 24' of arm 20; toform a hinge 45, leaf 40 being secured by countersunk screws 43.

A removable hinge pin 50, secured to tool 10 by suitable flexible meanssuch as a chain 41, is arranged to be interchangeably inserted in eitherhinge 35 or hinge 45. With pin 50 in hinge 35, arms 20, 20 are swingableabout the inner corner of the square to any angular relation not greaterthan 90 degrees to form an angle or protractor. For this purpose, arm 20has secured thereto an arcuate, slotted protractor or guide 55overlapping or mating arcuate, slotted protractor or guide 55 secured toarm 20'. The guides are concentric with the axis of hinge 35. The arms20, 20' are held in adjusted position by a winged clamping stud 56extending through the aligned slots in ggides 55, 55' and threaded intoa threaded recess in arm To use the tool as a straight-edge or elongatedlevel, pin 50 is withdrawn from hinge 35 and inserted in hinge 45. Stud56 is then withdrawn, and the arms 20 and 20' may be swung to an anglegreater than 90 degrees, or to a position in which outer edges 24 and24' are aligned.

The tool 10 may also be used as a level. For this purpose, spirit levelbulbs 60 and 61 are recessed into face 21 of arm 20 at right angles toeach other, and a spirit level bulb 63 is recessed into the outer edge24 of arm 20. If the tool is made of translucent material, such as atranslucent plastic, the spirit levels may be illuminated by the lightfrom pencil flashlights 65 inserted, bulb end inwardly, into recesses 66in the outer ends of the arms.

The groove 27 along inner edge 21 is arranged to have an elastic cord 70stretched therealong, cord 70 extending through a passage 37 in arm 20'aligned with groove 27 and being secured to the outer edge of arm 2%).Cord 70 is designed to be used as a straight, taut line for laying up acourse of bricks for example. For this purpose, the outer end of thecord is similarly disposed along and secured to an identical tool or maybe secured to a special clip 80 shown in Fig. 6.

Clip 80 is an angle having perpendicularly related arms 81, 82, eachpreferably having a spirit level bulb 83 in a side edge. Aligned channelgrooves 84, 86 extend centrally along the inner faces of arms 81, 82,and each arm has a passage 87 therethrough aligned with the groove inthe other arm to receive an end of cord 76.

To use the cord, it is secured between two tools 10 or two clips 70, orbetween a tool and a clip. The cord is then stretched so that itsanchors may be squared over the ends of a brick course 85 and levelledup. The taut cord 70 then forms a level line along the course, as shownin Fig. 7. This figure also illustrates how tools 10, arranged assquares, may be used to square" the corners of the brick course.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed in detail to illustrate the application of the inventionprinciples, it will be understood that the invention may be embodiedotherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. A combination tool comprising, in combination, a pair of arms eachhaving parallel rectilinear side edges and an end bevelled at an angleof 45 degrees to such edges, the bevelled ends of said arms beingjuxtaposable to position said arms perpendicular to each other to form aconstruction square having inner and outer corners; hinge leaves on eachside edge of each arm adjacent its bevelled end, the hinge leaves oneach arm mating with the correspondingly located hinge leaves on theother arm; and a removable hinge pin selectively operable to hingedlyinterconnect either pair of mating hinge leaves; whereby the arms areangularly adjustable about either the inner or outer corner of thesquare.

2. A combination tool as claimed in claim 1 in which each arm has a pairof parallel faces interconnecting said parallel side edges, said armsbeing formed of translucent material; a spirit level extending along oneside edge of each arm; a pair of spirit levels parallel to said faces ofeach arm and perpendicular to each other; and a light source mountedwithin each arm to illuminate said spirit levels.

3. A combination tool comprising, in combination, a pair of arms eachhaving parallel rectilinear side edges and an end bevelled at an angleof 45 degrees to such edges, the bevelled ends of said arms beingjuxtaposable to position said arms perpendicular to each other to form aconstruction square having inner and outer corners; hinge leaves on eachside edge of each arm adjacent its bevelled end, the hinge leaves oneach arm mating with the correspondingly located hinge leaves on theother arm; a removable hinge pin selectively operable to hingedlyinterconnect either pair of mating hinge leaves; whereby the arms areangularly adjustable about either the inner or outer corner of thesquare; and juxtaposable circular protractor means on each armconcentric with the hinge axis on the inner corner of the square.

4. A combination tool comprising, in combination, a pair of arms eachhaving parallel rectilinear side edges and an end bevelled at an angleof 45 degrees to such edges, the bevelled ends of said arms beingjnxtaposable to position said arms perpendicular to each other to form aconstruction square having inner and outer corners; hinge leaves on eachside edge of each arm adjacent its bevelled end, the hinge leaves oneach arm mating with the correspondingly located hinge leaves on theother arm; a removable hinge pin selectively operable to hingedlyinterconnect either pair of mating hinge leaves; whereby the arms areangularly adjustable about either the inner or outer corner of thesquare; juxtaposable circular protractor means on each arm concentricwith the hinge axis on the inner corner of the square; and releasableclamping means operatively associated with said protractor means toclamp said arms in adjusted angular relation.

